Ten ways to save money on your wedding

1. Get married in the morning, on a Friday or Sunday and/or in the winter months.
2. Keep the guest list small.
3. Make your own veil. Most craft stores sell how-to books and supplies. You can save hundreds of dollars by making your own.
4. Supply your own alcohol if you’re able too.
5. Consider not having a dinner reception. Opt instead for a brunch, after noon tea, cocktail or dessert party.
6. Decorate with more greenery and baby’s breath, and less flower blooms.
7. Make your own invitations. There are software programs available that can help you with this task, and you can purchase wedding paper at Arvey’s in Portland.
8. Check out local universities for qualified and inexpensive musicians, Professors will be able to point you to the best students in the program.
9. Shop around for everything -  get prices and commitments.
10. Have friends bring their digital cameras to the reception. They’ll get photos your photographer wouldn’t and you can do your own processing. Be sure to have a photographer do the wedding and posed group shots however, Skimping on your memories will only cause disappointment. Shop around, and be sure to read our article containing tips on choosing the right photographer, found on p.16

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Bridal Shower 101

A bridal shower is a party to outfit the engaged couple’s new home. It also allows friends and family a chance to spend time with the bride before she starts her married life.

WHO MAY HOST?
Friends of the bride who are in the wedding party, another couple, or even a male friend may host the shower. The bride’s mother, sisters, or close relatives of the groom’s usually don’t do  the hosting, to avoid the appearance of asking for gifts. They may help finance or help organize, however.

WHO IS INVITED?
Usually, only those who will be invited to the wedding, with the exception of office or club showers. Traditional all-women showers include guests from the bride’s and groom’s families, but co-ed showers are becoming more popular as well.

WHEN IS IT HELD?
At least two weeks before the wedding. Mail invitations or call guests at least two weeks in advance of the shower date. A post-wedding shower may even be more convenient for some, and is also acceptable.

WHAT HAPPENS?
Gifts are the primary focus. Be sure to have someone on hand to help record gifts (for thank you notes). Ribbons and bows may be collected for practice bouquets for the rehearsal ceremony. Themes make the party special, and can vary from a honeymoon theme, gardening, cooking, movies, patio party, picnic, or hobby themes.

Red Hot Bridal Show – Sunday • Feb 19th

Sunday, February 19th
10:00am – 4:00 pm
FREE ADMISSION

All of your wedding planning needs are met with expert vendors, and see the latest fashions at the Fashion Show, hosted by Michelle Renee.
Our “Red Hot” Bridal Show is the perfect time to gather information and quotes for services that you need to make your day just the way you want it to be. Grooms, Mothers of the Bride and all those in the wedding party or family are encouraged to attend!
• Wedding Dresses
• Wedding Party Attire
• Floral Designers
• Bakery Specialists
• Photographers
• Jewelry
• Caterers
• Health & Beauty
• Fitness
• Party Supplies
• DJ’s

….and so much more! Please make it a date on your calendar, if you already have a date, or even if the ring isn’t on your finger quite yet….come and experience all that the Red Lion’s RED HOT Bridal Show has to offer!
We encourage you to consider purchasing services and goods from local merchants, such as the ones showcased at this event. It keeps our dollars in the local economy and helps build local businesses to create a vibrant and lively community! These local vendors are wonderful to work with, and offer an in-depth and professional working knowledge of their businesses and services.
Bring your man, your mom or your girls, anybody is welcome to attend – even those who may be just dreaming of a wedding, or remembering a wedding of long ago! Looking to renew your vows? Make it a date on your calendar to come and see all the new styles and fashions as well as opportunities to make your event even more memorable.

Husbands: Love your wives…build hedges!

By Randy Sharp, guest columnist for One News Now, onenewsnow.com

Shortly after I married his daughter, my father-in-law gave me one of the most treasured gifts I have ever received — a book titled Hedges: Loving Your Marriage Enough to Protect It.
From the precepts found in the book, I learned how building “hedges” is important to a marriage. Just as in Scripture, hedges are a protection and direction against infidelity, a leading cause of marriage failure in America.
The Bible uses the word hedges several times. In the book of Job, God put a hedge of protection around Job. In Job 1:10, Satan asked, “Haven’t you placed a hedge around him, his household and everything he owns?”
In Psalm 80:12, David asks God why He has removed His hedge of protection from Israel — “Why have you broken down its [hedge] so that all who pass by pick its fruit?” God referred to a hedge as a righteous man when He told the prophet Ezekiel in Ezekiel 22:30, “I searched for a man among them who would repair the [hedge] and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land so that I might not destroy it, but I found no one.”
My marriage hedges are nothing more than a few simple rules, cultivated over 23 years of marriage. They are designed to protect me, my wife, and my children from a lifetime of suspicion, hurt, and mistrust.
They’re all based on one simple premise, “If I take care of the way things look, I take care of the way things are.”
Hedge #1 — I do not allow myself to be alone with a woman who is not my wife or immediate family member … EVER … EVER!  By doing so, I’ve completely eliminated the possibility that anything inappropriate will take place. I am especially careful at work, where most extra-marital relationships begin. Therefore, I also make it a practice not to engage in conversation with another woman regarding her or my personal life.
Hedge #2 – On work-related trips out of town, I take a family member with me if at all possible. My wife or one of my daughters goes with me.
Hedge #3 — I will not stay at hotels where pornography is available. Before I make a reservation, I ensure that the hotel does not offer pay-per-view or free adult programming. I use www.CleanHotels.com, an online site that lets me know which hotels are safe.
Hedge #4 — I let my wife know where I am at all times. With cell phone and texting technology so available, my wife appreciates my thinking of her.
Husband, love your wife by planting your own hedges today. My hedges serve me well, but there may be different ones that you will need to plant. Let your wife know what your hedges are and that you are committed to growing them.
Randy Sharp is Director of Special Projects for American Family Association. The American Family Association is the parent organization of the American Family News Network, which operates OneNewsNow.com.
Opinions expressed in ‘Features’ columns published by OneNewsNow.com are the sole responsibility of the article’s author(s), or of the person(s) or organization(s) quoted therein, and do not necessarily represent those of the staff or management of, or advertisers who support the American Family News Network, OneNewsNow.com, our parent organization or its other affiliates.

This Bridal Guide Page is Sponsored by: Signature Wedding Photography

Tips for planning a different bridal shower

A long time ago in the Netherlands, a father was not all pleased with the impending union of his daughter to her young fiancé, a poor fellow. So, the couple’s friends who felt very bad for the couple “showered” them with gifts to stock their new home.
Another possible origin of the bridal shower has it as an alternative to the dowry. In the 1890’s, friends and family put small gifts in parasols that were opened over the bride’s head.
Usually hosted by the maid or matron-of-honor or a close family friend. The shower is usually not hosted by any member of the family for it will be deemed self-serving. Immediate family, close relatives, members of the bridal party, and close friends should be in attendance. Those invited to a bridal shower must be invited to the wedding, unless the bridal shower is hosted by co-workers.
The shower is usually held a few months to a few weeks prior to the day of the wedding. The party can be as formal or informal as you want.Bridal showers are no longer limited to just the females. Wedding showers, or “Jack and Jill” showers, bring together both the bride and groom and their co-ed family and friends for a fabulous time of celebration.
Bridal showers can have an overall theme or motif, such as a “Time of the Day” theme or “Lingerie” Theme.
Bridal Shower Themes
Are you hosting a bridal or wedding shower? Have absolutely no clue on where to begin? Don’t fret! Most showers have a theme or overall motif such as a “lingerie” or “time of the day” theme. There are many possibilities and the only limit you have is your imagination! Gather a few of the bride’s special friends around you for some extra helping hands and creative ideas.
Basket Theme
Romance Basket: lingerie (his & hers), champagne flutes, champagne, scented candles, bath oil, bubble bath, heart-shaped soaps, books of love poems.
Italian Basket: Italian ceramic pasta bowls, wooden spoons, ceramic grated cheese shaker & olive oil cans, oval glass container filled with pasta, cans of tomatoes, red and white checkered place mats & napkins, Italian cookbook.
Decorations Basket: small decorations for every holiday — scarecrow & little monsters for Halloween, turkeys and pilgrims for Thanksgiving, Christmas decorations, Easter bunnies, Hearts for Valentine’s day.
Gift Certificate Theme
Every guest purchases a gift certificate from the local shops in the bride and Grooms hometown so that they can utilize them throughout their first year of marriage.
Think Local Hair salons, Nail Spas, Day Spas, grocery stores, Auto Shops, and anywhere that you yourself frequent for goods!
Lingerie Theme
It is very easy to find gifts that qualify for this theme and it can be very fun opening up the gifts. No holds-barred with the type of lingerie…prepare yourself for lots of giggling.
Party of Firsts
A fun couples’ shower where each guest is assigned to bring a gift for a specific “first” the couple will have, for example: their first Christmas together, their first time they burn dinner, their first night apart, etc. the possibilities are endless.
Time of Day
Guests are assigned a time of day and purchase a gift that applies to that time of day. For example, if you picked 10 p.m., then you would probably choose lingerie since that is bedtime. Or, if I was assigned 8 a.m., I would probably buy a his/her coffee mug set for that early morning wake-up call.
Home Improvement
Especially for couples showers. Guys love it!
Alphabet
Each guest is assigned a letter of the alphabet. EX: if I get “p,” I bring a pillow.
Room of the House
Every guest is “assigned” a room of the house. Their gift must be purchased to be used in that room!
“Month of the Year” Theme
Similar to the time of day shower, each guest is assigned a month of the year.
The bottom line is, be adventurous and have fun. Make it a memorable event that people talk about as being a great and entertaining party.

This Bridal Guide Page is Sponsored by: Signature Wedding Photography

Sweet wedding cake trends

Wedding Cakes today are expected to look drop dead gorgeous, present a wedding theme and taste devilishly delicious. Some of the new trends are as follows:
Clean and Classic Lines:
Chunky frosting’s begone! Today’s couples are choosing clean, classic designs. According to TheKnot.com, “understated, yet whimsical designs, such as cakes covered in blush-colored frosting and punctuated with tiny silver-dusted polka dots or pale blue-fondant frosted cakes studded with chocolate-brown sugar flowers, are all the rage”.
Cakes with shape:
Round tiered cakes are still a favorite, but various square, octagon and hexagon cakes are gaining in popularity, as are square shaped cakes topped with circles.
Colored Cakes:
Many colored cakes are now entering the scene, with many of the popular hues including light blush, ice blue, pale pistachio, rum pink and lavender. Colors that reflect the bridesmaids dresses, rather than the bride’s gown. There are also many cakes that are incorporating two tones of the same color.
Fresh Flowers
A popular item continues to be fresh flowers adorning the wedding cake. Simple blooms are creating dramatic impact, such as orchids, calla lilies, tulips and gardenias.
Personalization
Scroll-work or personalization continues to be very popular as well as incorporating family monograms.
The wedding cake is a reflection of your personality and relationship together, so many are taking fun measures to speak to the audience through this delicious confection.

This Bridal Guide Page is Sponsored by: Red Lion Hotel & Conference Center

Marking ‘Togetherness’ Beyond the Unity Candle

by Blake Kritzberg
By now, surely everyone’s familiar with the unity candle, but did you know there are other unification ceremonies to choose from when planning your wedding?
Although the unity candle seems to have been with us forever, in reality it’s only about ten years old. During those years, more “two-become-one” motifs have arrived to round out the theme.
Unification ceremonies are not only a symbol of togetherness, they’re also flexible elements of a wedding. These ceremonies can be “opened up” to include important family members, such as the bridal couple’s parents. Children from previous marriages can play a part, as can the entire congregation in a smaller wedding. Candle and rose ceremonies are common choices for adapting in this way.
Unification ceremonies can also be “stacked.” It’s not unusual to find a wedding that includes a hand and water ceremony, for example, or a wine and rose ceremony. Some couples play music during these ceremonies and others don’t.
The timing of unification ceremonies varies by wedding, but they most often take place directly before or after the exchange of vows. These ceremonies may be especially important in non-religious weddings, which may end too quickly otherwise!
Let’s look at some alternatives to the Unity Candle ceremony:
* Rose Ceremony
The rose ceremony is a flexible, informal ceremony especially suited to an interfaith or non-religious wedding, not to mention a garden wedding! In the rose ceremony, bride and groom exchange a single rose as their first married gift to each other. They are asked to recall this symbol of their love during the more trying seasons of marriage.
* Hand Ceremony
In the hand ceremony, the bride takes the groom’s hands in hers, palms up. The officiant invites her to view his hands as a gift, and says: “These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you build your future, as together you laugh and cry, and together you share your innermost secrets and dreams.”
The groom then takes the bride’s hands, palm side up. The officiant says, “They are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness, as she promises her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.”
* Knot Ceremony
In the knot ceremony, the mothers of the bridal couple are given a cord, which the officiant later asks them to give to the bridal couple. The couple ties a lover’s knot, which they may save to look back on later.
* Sand, Water + Wine Ceremonies
These are all mixing ceremonies suited to a Unitarian or interfaith wedding. The sand ceremony is said to arise from Apache customs, and is popular in beach weddings. In each case, the bride and groom pour sand or liquid from two separate vials into one.
My brother and his new wife performed this on the beach in Mexico for their destination wedding. It was beautiful.
In the wine ceremony, they drink the mixed wine.
A nice touch is to have the bride pour white wine while the groom pours red. You can then serve rosé at the reception to remind everyone of the ceremony.
* The Salt Covenant
The salt covenant is an ancient tradition, well-described in the Bible, and appearing regularly in Indian-national and Jewish weddings. Like the Jewish Huppah, the salt covenant (a mixing ceremony with ancient connotations of loyalty, protection and hospitality) is beginning to show up in non-Jewish weddings as well.
* The Foot-Washing Ceremony
The foot washing ceremony (not to be confused with the Scottish bridal foot-washing ceremony, a raucous pre-wedding event) is a fascinating, solemn custom emphasizing the role of dual servitude in a marriage.
This short article hasn’t covered all the unification ceremonies: there are bread-sharing ceremonies, circling ceremonies, broom jumping ceremonies, and probably more ceremonies that are being invented right now.
However, if you feel a unification ceremony might make your wedding more meaningful and personal, consider these alternatives. Don’t forget that you can use more than one!
About The Author
Blake Kritzberg is the proprietor of: http://www.just-wedding-favors.com.

This Bridal Guide Page is Sponsored by: Red Lion Hotel & Conference Center

Tips for choosing your wedding photographer

A how-to guide for brides (and their intended hubbies!)
By Jessica Lemmons, Jessica Lemmons Photography
You said yes!!! You’ve picked your date and maybe even your venue, now is the perfect time to start shopping for a photographer. Hopefully this helpful insight will allow you to avoid the common pitfalls experienced by many!
Start out by browsing websites. Most photographers these days have developed a web presence and you can learn a lot about a photographer by spending a little time on their site.
This is a great activity for you and your fiance to do together – both of you sit down with a cup of tea (or coffee!), browse sites and discuss what you like about the various photographers. This can be really fun for a couple as you will often learn a little bit about your fiancé’s taste in art, plus you would be surprised how many men are super-interested in photography.
1) Take note of the professionalism of the website – it should be in line with your taste.
2) Pay attention to the variety of the photos in the photographers website. Night time, dark reception halls, bright sunny days and candle-lit churches, etc..
3) Does the photographer offer digital files? Now is the time to find out!
4) Narrow your choices, then call to inquire about availability and see if you can set up an in-person interview with your potential photographers. In-person interviews (or even a “video-chat” interview for destination weddings) are vital. Focus on personality and professionalism, as well as a personality “mesh”. You will be spending lots and lots of time with them on your wedding day!
Here are some recommended questions to ask during your interview:
a. Albums & Prints – do you have to go through the photographer for all printing needs, will you get a print release to print images yourself, or some combination of both?
b. “What happens if……?” What are the photographers policies on emergencies?
c. What type of equipment does the photographer use? Use Google to help you understand the equipment names they throw at you (take notes!). Professional is what you are looking for.
d. Does the photographer work with an assistant?
e. What is the photographers experience level?
f. What will they be wearing the day of the wedding?
g. Does the photographer have a backup set of equipment?
Contract time! You’ve chosen your photographer but it’s not over yet! When it’s time to go over the contract make sure you’ve throughly read and understood all of the details like price, payment, delivery timeline and refund policies. Most photographers have a “no-refund” policy once the date is reserved as they will immediately begin turning away other potential brides for your date. Be sure you understand what you are signing.
Some final tips:
1) Communicate with your photographer before the wedding. Nervous about handling a difficult family situation when it comes to photos? Worried about a few extra pounds you’ve put on? Let your photographer know!
2) The day of the wedding – appoint a photography “helper”. I often recommend having the maid of honer be the go-between for the photographer and all those that need photographed.
3) Most of all, be yourself and have fun on your wedding day!
If you’ve selected a great photographer you can rest assured that they will be capturing those happy moments you want remembered – it’s just up to you to have them! ☺
Jessica Lemmons is a Longview-based wedding and portrait photographer and has been serving the community since 2007. She can be reached for free consultations at (360)431-9265 or online @ jessicalemmonsphotography.com

This Bridal Guide Page is Sponsored by: Signature Wedding Photography

Man Up and Don the Tux

New Book Guides Grooms-To-Be Through the Wedding Planning Process.
The wedding may be known as the “bride’s big day,” but the groom is getting married too, right?
‘Be the Man: The Man Registry® Guide for Grooms’— a practical (and funny) guide to navigating the wedding minefield (ISBN: 9781615641314, Alpha Books, January 2012, $14.95) leads grooms-to-be through the wedding planning process – from choosing an engagement ring through planning the honeymoon.
Co-founder of TheManRegistry.com and author Chris Easter says, “We already know that you’re ‘the man’ in your everyday life. Now, it’s time to become ‘the married man,’ which includes stepping up and taking an active role in preparing for the most important day of your life.”
From the wedding budget to the bachelor party, from rehearsal to reception, Be the Man: The Man Registry® Guide for Grooms will help grooms-to-be grow from an innocent bystander in the planning process to a connoisseur who finds a way to leave a personal mark on his wedding. The book includes suggestions and tips for:
• Engagement ring shopping – helps grooms research so that they can make the best decision for them, their wallets and their soon-to-be-bride.
• Wedding plan of attack and duties for dudes – includes tips for staying within budget and a timeline and checklist for getting things done before the wedding bells ring. (Believe it or not, your brides will find this incredibly endearing and romantically responsible. Strange, but true).
• Wedding party and guest list – contains questions to ask yourself before asking groomsmen to partake in your wedding and how to determine who will share the special day with you.
• Registering for gifts – provides answers to why grooms should be involved in gift registry and choosing groom-friendly gifts. (Remember, you’re in the marriage, too).
• Groomsmen gifts – outlines popular gift ideas and trends, discusses budget tips and how and when to present the gifts to the wedding party.
• Bachelor party – give rules and guidelines to follow that will ensure this is an epic night (or weekend).
• Style and attire – everything you need to know to look your best on wedding day and adding some personal flair.
• Ceremony, reception and wedding night – lets you know what to expect and what to prepare for each step of the day of your life.
• Honeymoon – guides newlyweds through planning a stress-free and luxurious trip together.
Be the Man: The Man Registry® Guide for Grooms is intended to give grooms a play-by-play of the wedding planning months, answer lingering questions and debunk age-old myths.
Chances are the bride already has the traditional big book of all things wedding. This book if the groom’s guide to wedding planning and it focuses on only the stuff they need (and want) to know.
About the Author:
Chris Easter (Los Angeles, Calif.) is co-founder of the TheManRegistry.com, the web’s leading wedding resource for grooms and groomsmen, and also serves as Editor-in-Chief of the company’s blog, GroomsAdvice.com. Easter has been quoted in national media including Details Magazine, The Knot, Fox News, and Entrepreneur Magazine, and has appeared on The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, G4’s Attack of the Show, The Tyra Banks Show. Easter was recently named one of the Top 30 Entrepreneurs Under 30 by Inc. Magazine.
This article is printed with permission, and was submitted by the Author’s publishing agent.

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